t."

"You are kind, little Will, to say this to me.--You are very kind, my
boy; you make me feel as I once did feel, and I'll tell you all.
Listen! and I'll tell you all about it."

There was a tear in the sailor's eye, the first he had shed for many a
long year. Upon his weather-bronzed face I observed a mingled
expression of tenderness and sadness.

I placed myself to listen attentively.

"It's a short story," he continued, "and won't take many words. I
warn't always what I am now. No, I was a man-o'-war's-man for many a
year, and, though I say it myself, there warn't many in the service as
knew their duty or did it better. But all that went for nothing. It
was at Spithead--we were lying there with the fleet, and I chanced to
run foul o' the master's-mate o' our ship. It was all about a bit o'
lass that we met ashore, who was my sweetheart. He was a-makin' too
free with her, and my blood got up. I couldn't help it, and I
threatened him--only threatened him. There's what I got for it. Look
there, little Will!"

As the sailor finished speaking, he pulled off his jacket, and raised
his shirt over his shoulder. I perceived across his back, and up and
down, and in every direction, a complete network of long scars--the
scars of old weals--which the "cats" had made upon his flesh.

"Now, my lad, you know why I'm driven to a ship like this. In course I
desarted the navy, and afterwards tried it in the merchant-sarvice, but
go where I would, I carried the Cain-mark along with me, and somehow or
other it always came out, and I couldn't stand it. Here I'm not the odd
sheep in the flock. Among the fellows below there, there's many a back
as well striped as mine."

Ben ceased speaking, and I, impressed with the brief history of his
wrongs, remained for some time silent.

After awhile I again ventured to broach the subject that lay nearest my
heart.

"But, Ben," said I, "this is a horrid kind of life to lead; surely you
do not intend to continue it?"

A shake of the head was all the answer I received.

"I could not endure it," I continued; "I have resolved to make my escape
whenever an opportunity offers. Surely you will aid me?"

"Both you and myself, lad."

"Oh! I am so pleased."

"Yes," continued he, "I am tired of it, too. I have been thinking how I
can leave it. This I'm determined shall be my last voyage--leastwise,
in this trade. I've been thinking, my boy, of giving 'em the slip, and
ta